Eliphalet s



E. S. SCRIPTURE.

improvement in Equestrian Gymnasiums. No. 129,988 4 PatentedJu|y30, 1872.

4M. PA crc-L/r/wamM/c can y {1756051753 Pnacsssj UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN EQUESTRIAN GVMNASIUMS.

Specification forming part of LettersPatent No. 129,988, dated July 30, 1872.

To all whom it my concerns Be it known that I, ELIPHALE'I S. SCRIP- UTURE, of 'Williamsburg, in the county of Kings. and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Equestrian Gymnasium; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved equestrian gymnasium. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view, partly in section, of the same.

Similar letters .of reference indicate corresponding part-s.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus on which a greatvariety of novel,useful,

and highly pleasing exercises-such as imaginary horseback-ridin g, riding in a flying ham- ;mock, swinging on a jerking-rope, &c.can be taken. The exercises are'both amusing and difficult to perform, as theyare alternately aided and obstructed by mechanical power. The inventionconsists in the arrangement of mechanism for imparting the desired movements to the devices on which the persons taking the exercise are either supported or from which they are suspended.

A in the drawing represents a strong gallows or frame, in which an upright shaft, B, is journaled. Upon the latter is mounted a circular platform, G, which, when rotary motion is, by

suitable mechanism, imparted to the shaft,

tact with or moved by the same. The corrugations on the under side of the plate-D are tapering, so as to become shallower toward the periphery. This makes a graduating surface for imparting vibratory motion to suitable devices on the rotary platform, the vibrations being more or less violent, according as they are derived from'the deeper or shallower part of the corrugated plate D. F is a tiltlever, pivoted to a hanger, a, which is suspended from the under sideof the platform 0. To the upper face of this platform is pivoted a rocking horse, E, which is, by a stem, 12, connected with the outer end of the tilting-lever, the inner end of the same carrying a frictionroller, 0, which, by the weight of the horse E, y is held in contact with the under side of the plate D.

When the platform 0 is revolved, the roller 0 will work against the corrugated plate D, and thereby cause the lever F to tilt and the horse E to oscillate in imitation of a galloping horse. A person seated on the horse E will thus obtain a double motion and pleasant exercise. The degree of oscillating motion may be varied by carrying the hanger a more in or out, the platform 0 being slotted to permit such I adjustment. This will bring the roller 0 in contact with the more or less deeply corrugated portions of the plate D.

G is a jumping block or stool, resting with its stem F on the tilting-lever F to receive vertical reciprocating motion from the same for the exercise of the parties standing upon .it. The tilting-lever may, furthermore, be utilized for imparting oscillating or reciprocating motion to climbing-poles and other devices arranged on the platform 0. To a hanger, d, suspended from the platform 0, is pivoted a yoke or frame, H, whose free end is, by a rod,

0, connected with a weighted lever, I, that is pivoted to a post, f, projecting from the platform, the weight g on the lever I being adjustable. In the yoke H is hung a short shaft, h, carrying a friction-roller, c', at the inner end. J is a stationary plate, secured upon posts j that project from the base of the frame A. The ends of the plate J are slightly turned up to let the roller t work conveniently under it. As the platform 0 revolves the yoke H is oscillatedon its pivot by alternately being carried down when the roller 6 works under the track J and swung up by the weight y when clear of such track. While the roller 41 is in contact with the track J it is rotated, beingfor thatpurpose preferably provided with a rubber tire, and causes the shaft h also to revolve. In so doing the shaft it slowly winds up ropesl and m, and unwinds them again rapidly as quick as the roller 4; has cleared the track J. The rope 1 passes over friction-rollers n m that hang in arms 0 projecting from the shaftB, and sustains one end of a hammock,

L, the other end of which hangs on one of the the diameter of the wheel '5, or lengthening the track, the degree of up-and-down motion may be varied. If such motion of the hammock and handles is to be entirely dispensed with during the rotation of the platform 0, it is onlynecessary to hold the weighted end of the lever I elevated by suitable device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The tilting-lever F, arranged with the corrugated wheel D, stem 1), and hanger a, made adjustable by means of slots in the platform C, as shown and described, whereby the motion of the device E may be varied, as set forth.

2. The rotary platform 0, carrying the lever F and yoke H, for imparting oscillatin g or upand-down motion to the seats, couches, or sns pending devices on the platform, substantial- 1y as herein shown and described.

3. The yoke H, carrying the shafth and wheel t, and combined with the stationary track J for the purpose of causing the alternate winding and unwinding of the ropes I m, or either, substantially as herein shown and described.

ELIPHALET S. SGRIPTURE.

\Vitnesses: I

GEO. W. MABEE, T. B. MOSHER. 

